The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-03-23

The New York Times, of recent date,
contains some interesting information
concerning what it describes as the
Foundation of our navy of the future"
comprising one steel despatch boat, eight
cruisers, four gunboats, one dynamite
gunboat, two torpedo boats, two armored
line of battle ships, five monitors, and
probably two floating batteries or steel
rams.
The Dolphin is already complete, the
Boston and Atlanta, substantially fin
ishcd, and the Chicago capable of being
soon put to sea if needed. OF the fast
cruisers, to rank with any of their class
in the world, the Baltimore and Charles
ton are now under construction, and the
Nelcark soon will be, since the needed
expenditure was provided for in the
navy bill just passed.
In addition to these there are the two
cruisers provided for under the new
navy bill, which are to make nineteen
knots an hour, and may cost 81 100000
each. Heavy premiums and penalties
for every quarter knot of speed above or
below this maximum are to be put in
the contract. Besides the new cruisers
there are four fast gunboats, two of
which are already under construction,
and the remaining two provided for in
the new bill.
There is also under construction
Pneumatic dynamite gunboat, which is
expected to have a speed of twenty
knots, and which will throw from its
three tubes projectiles containing each
200 pounds of some powerful high ex
plosive. Still another addition is tor
pedo vessel, at a maximum cost of
100000, which is not yet designed.
More important than any Of the vessels
yet named are the two armored cruisers
authorized at the first session of the late
Congress. They will be of about 5000 tons
displacement, heavily armored, with pow
erful batteries, and having speed OF at
least sixteen knots. The sum allowed for
these fine line-of battle ships is 81, 500, 600
each, and the chief delay in their construc-
ton is due to the necessity of providing
suitable armoI. The new navy bill makes
the very handsome appropriation of "a
100000 exclusively for armor and gun steel
for these two vessels and for the double
turret monitors. These monitors, in turn,
FIVE in number, the Puritan, Amphitrite,
Monadaock, Terror, and Msantonomoh, must
now at last be reckoned as part Of the eff |
fective navy, since while their size and |
other peculiarities will make them of linn
tied service they win undoubtedly perform |
q certain function in coast defense. Such |
armor as the Miaatonomoh will carry no |
doubt can easily be shot through by mod |
ern guas OF by no means the largest cali
bre, but she may pxess OF some service in
harbor defesse, For the completion of
these monitors, exclusive of their batteries,
The new act appropriates 81. 42o 900, and
Tor guns for these vessels and the others
already named it appropriates $l.l28, 1862.
'The record is not ended yet since the
neg act provides 81 DOC, 900 toward float
ing batteries or rams for coast and harbor
isfence, the anal eest contemplated being
b ,0oo.060 exclusive Of armament. I'll
llso makes $4,000 available for punches
ng and testing naval torpedoes, and fur
her appropriation Of $4,000 is granted
or buying the Siistto for use a. torpedo
'oat. appropriations thus mentioned
IRE exclusive at those made to the Naval
ordnance Bureau for ~ ordinary work IN
he manufacture Of cannon, though 10 this
after the setting apart Of $50, 400 for pHr-
hasing three steel-cast. rough-bored. sIx-
nch, high-rover rife cannon, one Of Bes-
emer, one Of oper-heazth spd one of cru
Able steel, is worthy Of special aote~ II